Friday, November 11, 2005

A few things I noticed while rewatching a few episodes of Juuni Kokki:

- Rokuta travels by riding on his Shirei. Keiki prefers traveling in his kirin form. It makes sense if you think about it, since Keiki grew up in his kirin form and Rokuta didn't.

- I love how interconnected everything is. For example, the appearance of Lord Shinkun and his youma Rokuta in the Taiki arc, then later in the En arc. Also, the appearance of the then-newcomer Nyosen Eiei during Rokuta's flashback episode. Of course, there was also Suzu's abrupt appearance during the Taiki arc.

Now, to finish that article.
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Monday, November 7, 2005

Itan: Your Majesty! Where did you frolick to this time?
En-ou: Why, I was womanizing, of course! Now I'm off to enlist in provincial armies for no reason!
Enki: Yay!
Itan: SHITSUDOU. NOW.

I'm reading the Twelve Kingdoms novel translations, and I immediately skipped over to The Sea God in the East, the Vast Sea in the West because En-ou and En-ki are such crackheads. They're so much fun. <3
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Sunday, November 6, 2005

Untitled Last Exile Fic
As they neared the end of the hallway, he asked, "Was it a change of heart that caused you to leave?"

"It's not like you to be so subtle," Sophia smiled, "I left because my country needs me. As for my heart, it hasn't changed. Matured, but not changed."

It was then that Alex realized Sophia was no longer a little girl, but had grown to become a competent young woman - and a friend.

One of the best fanfics I ever wrote, and I never actually finished it.

Funny how life is, eh?
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Saturday, November 5, 2005

Annabel Lee
It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

-- "Annabel Lee", Edgar Allen Poe
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Friday, November 4, 2005

More on L'Arc
My guide only covers the first four albums. As for the later albums, the five songs I recommend most are:

I. HEART's fate - Best. Song. Ever. Words can't do justice. Just listen.

II. RAY's Ibara no Namida - Painfully poignant. Calm and subdued, and builds up towards the torrent of emotions released in the chorus. This is one of the few songs that I really recommend you read the translated lyrics to. They're as beautiful as the song itself.

III. HEART's Loreley - The solemn tone of this song, and the added saxophone (played by Hyde), makes this one of the only L'Arc~en~Ciel songs that can be described as bluesy. Highly recommended.

IV. ARK's Butterfly's Sleep - This one is really interesting, and is also one of their least known songs. The curious instrumentation creates an Egyptian feel, and further intensifies the song's dark tone.

V. REAL's A silent letter - A beautiful ballad-like song. The majority of the song seems lost in a somber, dream-like state, until the final chorus.
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Wednesday, November 2, 2005

Submitted the L'Arc~en~Ciel article.

I put a lot of love into that piece. I hope it shows.
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Sunday, October 30, 2005

It seems to be Christian Bale Week in my strange little world.

I watched Empire of the Sun yesterday, starring a teenaged Christian Bale. Quite the fantastic actor, even then.

Now I really want to watch American Psycho, if not just to see CB running around naked with a chainsaw.

I talk about movies way too much.

And so, I leave you all with a quote:

"Of course everyone goes through hard times of doubt in all professions, and it is hard to deal with, naturally. The most important thing is to stay focused and keep your morale up. Alternatively, I get myself drunk and do silly dances around the pool with my dog."
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Wednesday, October 26, 2005

"Who's your favorite superhero?"
"I LIKE BATMAN HEHEHEHE."
"Eh, I don't like him so much. He doesn't have any real superpowers."
"Batman doesn't need superpowers! He's ninja!"

I'm watching Batman Begins for the fourth time.

Sure, the script is a bit pretentious, and it takes a while to make sense of the action sequences, but it's still a fun movie overall.

Besides, you can't go wrong with such a superb cast. (Christian Bale and Cillian Murphy!)
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Monday, October 24, 2005

I like L'Arc~en~Ciel. More specifically, I've been a fan of theirs for over two years.

Now that I've sent in the Fanfiction Guide, I'm thinking my next article should be dedicated to them.

Perhaps it's time that I show a bit more appreciation towards my favorite rock band.
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Saturday, October 22, 2005

During Japanese class yesterday, my class had a couple guest speakers from Japan. One of the more interesting things shown to us was a survey taken by Japanese students listing ten words describing America:

1) Free
2) Liberty
3) Wide
4) Large (FUTOTTE IMASU!!!!111)
5) Hamburger
6) Bush
7) War
8) Gun
9) Scared
10) Powerful

The first two answers are nice enough, but after that, the list deteriorates into describing us as fat and violent war-mongers. (Though, I guess in some cases, we are.)

Being a vegetarian, #5 is especially disheartening.
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